America’s Jessica Pegula has opened up about the support she has received from within her country after having an impressive outing at the US Open in 2024. The 31-year-old had a fabulous outing in the last Grand slam of the year, where she finished as the runner-up after losing to reigning world number one Belarus’ Aryna Sabalenka in the final in straight sets with a score of 7-5, 7-5.
Pegula was recently quoted in a report discussing the support she received from within her country after an impressive outing at the US Open. The New York-born star stated that even before her brilliant run at the last Grand Slam of the year in 2024, she had received a lot of support in the US, and that support only increased after she cemented a spot in the final of a major event.
“Even before that run I felt like coming to the US. I have always had so much support,” she said. “But I think definitely after that tournament there’s so many people watching the US Open over those two weeks and the Americans were doing really well. And I think now there’s definitely a lot more excitement from fans. I think that’s really cool because in the US there’s so many sports that are really popular but when you can do well at the biggest tennis event we have in the country, I think that definitely drew a lot of attention to me. Even though I was already doing well before, but that whole kind of summer swing into that final I’ve definitely noticed a lot more fan excitement.”
Pegula is currently taking part at the Indian Wells, where she has already booked her place in round 32 after beating Poland’s Magda Linette in straight sets with a score of 6-4, 6-2. She will face Wang Xinyu of China in the next round.